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House GOP signals future agenda by voting against jobless aid, NPR

By Lisa Mascaro Tribune Co.

Posted:
11/19/2010 01:00:00 AM MST

Updated:
11/19/2010 11:17:41 AM MST

Speaker of the House-elect John Boehner of Ohio, center, listens Thursday at the first news conference following the House GOP leadership elections in the wake of November's midterm elections. Speaking is Majority Leader-elect Eric Cantor of Virginia.
(Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans voted Thursday to deny an extension of unemployment benefits for jobless Americans and tried to cut off public funding for National Public Radio, moves that reinforced the GOP's direction as their influence expands in Washington following midterm election gains.

The votes were not necessarily new tactics, as Republicans have generally opposed extending unemployment insurance unless it is paid for with federal spending cuts elsewhere and have vowed to take weekly votes to cut federal spending.

But the two House votes, within hours of each other as lawmakers prepared to recess for a Thanksgiving break, provided an example of the agenda to come when the GOP takes control of the chamber in January.

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"This couldn't come at a worse time," said Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, in making the case to extend unemployment benefits. "Although our economy has shown some signs of improving, far, far too many people are still unable to find a job."

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., agreed. "I am extremely disappointed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle stood in the way of extending a helping hand to Americans in need," she said in a statement.

Unemployment insurance runs out Nov. 30 for 2 million jobless Americans. Democrats sought to extend coverage during the holiday season through February, when another 2 million would be without benefits.

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But Republicans opposed using emergency funds for the $12.5 billion cost of the jobless aid. Instead, they wanted the aid paid for by shifting federal funds from economic stimulus accounts or from other programs.

Lawmakers voted 258-154 to extend the jobless benefits but fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the measure. Eleven Democrats and 143 Republicans were among those voting no.

Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., argued that Democrats, by bringing the bill to the floor without providing a way to pay for its costs, failed to heed the anti-spending message of the November election.

"Are you even listening to the American people?" Boustany said.

Restricting federal funding going to National Public Radio is part of the GOP's "YouCut" campaign, in which various federal programs are suggested for cuts. Visitors to a GOP website can vote for their favorites.

National Public Radio has long been in the GOP's crosshairs for its perceived liberal bias. But the organization's firing of analyst Juan Williams after comments he made on Fox News about Muslims flying on airplanes reignited the debate.

"NPR's recent firing of longtime news analyst Juan Williams was a wake-up call," said Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., the bill's sponsor. "It is not so much the liberal bias that offends me, but the fact that our tax dollars are funding it."

Most of NPR's funding comes from listener contributions and corporate sponsors, with a fraction coming from federal sources. The effort to curtail the funds died on a procedural vote.